Tabletop Tuesday - Yahtzee

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the game of loud exclamations or silent resignations that is Yahtzee.

Players: 1+
Time: 15-30 minutes (depending on number of players / dice)
Genre: Casual Family Game



Looking for the perfect game to play while drying off at the pool, and one that could essentially cost you nothing?  If you have at least 5 dice and some score sheets (feel free to use the below image to print), Yahtzee is that game.  In this game, players take turns rolling 5 dice to score points for their needed categories on the score sheet.  Players are allowed to re-roll any dice twice per turn, which is where the decision-making begins as players debate which category should be fought for.  Of course, the most coveted category is Yahtzee (five of the same number), which is worth 50 points and then an additional 100 points for subsequent Yahtzee's.  However, should players fail to meet their intended category, they then have to sacrifice points elsewhere.  It's a game of luck, probability, and strategy.

While this may be a game of luck and probability, here are a few small tips that can help you improve your Yahtzee game:

• When going for straights, it's best to work from a 2, 3, 4, 5 setup so that you have two numbers in which to close the large straight.
• If you score 63 or more points in the upper section, you'll get a 35 point bonus which can be crucial in most games.  This can be achieved by getting at least three of each number rolled in each of the six categories.  With that in mind, you can more easily track how far above or below you are from reaching that bonus.
• Sometimes you'll get a bum roll, which you may want to use on your Chance if you still have such available.  Keep in mind though that you could instead always put a zero any other category, such as 1's which aren't worth many points, or reluctantly resign to giving up on Yahtzee.

I recommend this game to those who enjoy math, chance, and loud noises.  If you have any questions about Yahtzee, let me know in the comments.  Otherwise, look forward to future installments of Tabletop Tuesday.  Until then, happy dice rolling!